Marking his 76th birthday, King Charles attended a surplus food festival in Deptford, South London, where he opened two new food hubs dedicated to reducing food waste and supporting communities. This event commemorated the first anniversary of his Coronation Food Project, launched last year to bridge the gap between food surplus and food scarcity amid the cost-of-living crisis. The hubs will collaborate with organizations such as FareShare and the Felix Project to supply meals to those in need.
The festival, held at one of the new hubs, showcased meals prepared from surplus food that would otherwise be discarded. Charles toured the facility, observing an industrial freezer and other equipment used to extend the shelf life of rescued food. He was joined by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, highlighting the importance of local and national efforts to tackle food waste.
Launched in 2023, the Coronation Food Project has already made a significant impact, saving approximately 940 tonnes of food, equivalent to more than 2 million meals. It has raised over £15 million, with plans to establish a network of up to 10 hubs and provide grants to organizations working in food redistribution. The project aligns with Charles’s longstanding commitment to environmental and social causes.
